PAGARA, MAGSAYO IN MUST WIN SITUATIONS ON PINOY PRIDE 35
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 03 Feb 2016
CEBU CITY ? Having been scheduled to take on more formidable opponents in a much bigger stage for their next assignments, undefeated rising stars 'Prince' Albert Pagara and Mark 'Magnifico' Magsayo are in a must win situations when they co-headline 'Pinoy Pride 35: Stars of the Future' on February 27 at the Waterfront Hotel & Casino here.
ALA Promotions CEO Michael Aldeguer revealed during the press launching of the Feb. 27 event Wednesday afternoon held at St. Mark's Hotel in uptown Cebu City that Pagara will headline a July card in San Francisco against a yet to be named opponent while Magsayo (12-0-0, 10KO) will fight on the undercard of the Donaire-Bedak fight card on April 23 in Manila.
The duo however will need to defeat their respective opponents this month before they can think about the April and July events. Pagara (25-0-0, 18KO), from Maasin City, will face Yesner Talavera (15-3-1, 4KO) of Nicaragua for the WBO Intercontinental Jr Featherweight title while Magsayo will exchange leathers with Mexico's Eduardo Montoya (17-4-1, 13KO).
?I'm not worried about this fight [with Talavera]. ?What's important is I'm training all the time. I'm training hard. So whoever is front of me I'm always ready,? Pagara said, who won 7 of his last ten fights inside the distance, the last one was against Nicaraguan banger William Gonzalez (28-6-0, 24KO) whom he stopped in the 6th round at the StubHub Center in Carson, CA last Oct. 17.
L-R: Albert Pagara, ALA Promotions CEO Michael Aldeguer and Mark Magsayo during the press launching of 'Pinoy Pride 35: Stars of the Future' held Wednesday at the St. Mark Hotel in Cebu City. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Pagara, rated No. 2 by the WBO and rated No. 3 by the IBF in the Jr Featherweight, is being positioned by Aldeguer to vie for the WBO championship belt now being held by Nonito Donaire Jr in case the 'Filipino Flash' will return to the featherweight division. ?Albert could fight for the WBO belt late this year or early next year if Nonito moves up in weight,? Aldeguer said.
?I will try to go for an early knockout [against Montoya],? Magsayo, whose 12 victims so far have never gone beyond the 6th round, the last one was a first round demolition against erstwhile undefeated Yardley Saurez of Mexico at the StubHub Center last Oct. 17, said. ?But if there is no knockout, it's not a problem for me.?
Magsayo will most likely face world title contender Chris Avalos of the United States on April 23. ?That bout is still under negotiation, it's not final yet,? Aldeguer said. Avalos lost to Carl Frampton of Britain for the IBF super bantamweight title in February last year but bounced back by defeating Filipino Rey Perez in August. He also had wins over Filipino contenders Drian Francisco and Rolly Lunas.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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